Merck and Lowenstein Sandler Launch Pro Bono Project for Homeless Veterans. Launching the Veterans Justice Initiative at Merck & Co. headquarters on September 7th are (from left) Bruce Kuhlik, Executive V.P. and General Counsel, Merck & Co.; Gary M. Wingens, Chairman and CEO, Lowenstein Sandler; Mark Daniel, VP & Group Managing Counsel, Patents, Merck & Co.; Kenneth Zimmerman, Member of the Firm, and Chair, Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest, Lowenstein Sandler; David Wissert. Member of the Firm, Lowenstein Sandler and Community Hope, Inc. Board Member; Douglas S. Eakeley, Member of the Firm, Lowenstein Sandler and Carmine Deo, Chief Operating Officer and V.P. of Clinical Services, Community Hope, Inc. Together with Legal Services of Northwest Jersey, Merck and Lowenstein Sandler attorneys will provide legal assistance to residents of Community Hope’s Hope for Veterans Program, serving homeless veterans throughout New Jersey.
In order to address the legal issues facing homeless veterans struggling to rebuild their lives, attorneys from Merck and Lowenstein Sandler announced they will be donating their services to provide pro bono legal aid to residents of the largest transitional housing program in New Jersey. At Community Hope’s Hope for Veterans® Program, 95 former service men and women receive shelter and support in overcoming homelessness.
“While our program helps veterans in everything from accessing healthcare to finding jobs, legal assistance was the missing link,” said J. Michael Armstrong, Community Hope Chief Executive Officer. “We knew it was integral to helping our veterans succeed, but we did not have the expertise. We had been trying to fill this void for the past seven years when Merck offered the volunteer services of their attorneys.”
Merck created a partnership with Lowenstein Sandler, the Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest, and Legal Services of Northwest Jersey (LSNWJ) to form the Veterans Justice Initiative. Veterans’ cases are assigned to Merck or Lowenstein Sandler volunteer attorneys or an LSNWJ staff attorney, based on the legal issue. In addition to pro bono legal services, Merck provided Community Hope and LSNWJ with grant funding to establish the Initiative.
Armstrong explained that without a permanent address, legal notices were not received and veterans are therefore unaware of many of the outstanding legal matters until they attempt to put their lives back together in our program. He said that many veterans are in need of legal assistance to reinstate their driving privileges; appeal disability claims; resolve credit issues that can deter them from getting jobs and permanent housing or other legal matters.
Speaking at the recent launch as September 11th commemorations were underway throughout the community, Bruce Kuhlik, Merck Executive Vice President and General Counsel, said his company's "pro bono programs are focused on helping those without access to legal advice get equal justice under the law. We are proud to be giving back to those who have sacrificed so much for our country.”
Gary M. Wingens, Chairman and CEO of Lowenstein Sandler said, “The Justice Initiative will really help our veterans rejoin society.”
